AMENDED
AND RESTATED SUBORDINATED GUARANTY AND PLEDGE
AGREEMENT
September 19, 2008
Teton
Energy Corporation
and
each of the other
Obligors
The Bank
of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as Successor in Interest
To
Whitebox Advisors, LLC
as subordinated
noteholder representative
The
indebtedness and other obligations of the Borrower and its
subsidiaries evidenced by, and the lien created by this Agreement
or referred to herein on the property described herein is junior
and subordinate to the indebtedness and other obligations of the
Borrower and its subsidiaries and any lien on such property created
by any similar instrument now or hereafter executed by the Borrower
and its subsidiaries in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. , as
administrative agent, and its successors and assigns in such
capacity, in such property, accordance with the provisions of the
Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement
dated as of September 19, 2008, among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as
Senior Agent, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as
Subordinated Holder Representative and collateral agent, the
Borrower and certain of its affiliates, as amended from time to
time.
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Page
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Definitions
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2
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Definitions
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2
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Other
Definitional Provisions
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4
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Guarantee
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Guarantee
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Right of
Contribution
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No
Subrogation
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Guaranty
Amendments, Etc. with respect to the Obligations
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Waivers
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Guaranty
Absolute and Unconditional
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Reinstatement
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Payments
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Grant of
Security Interest
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Grant of
Security Interest
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Transfer of
Pledged Securities
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Representations
and Warranties
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10
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Representations
in Credit Agreement
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10
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Title; No Other
Liens
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10
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Perfected First
Priority Liens
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10
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Obligor
Information
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Pledged
Securities
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Benefit to the
Guarantor
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Solvency
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Covenants
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12
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Maintenance of
Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation
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12
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Changes in
Locations, Name, Etc.
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12
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Pledged
Securities
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Remedial
Provisions
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Code and Other
Remedies
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Pledged
Securities
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Private Sales
of Pledged Securities
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Waiver;
Deficiency
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Non-Judicial
Enforcement
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The
Subordinated Noteholder Representative
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Subordinated
Noteholder Representative’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact,
Etc.
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Duty of
Subordinated Noteholder Representative
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Page
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Filing of
Financing Statements
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Authority of
Subordinated Noteholder Representative
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Subordination
of Indebtedness
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Subordination
of All Obligor Claims
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Claims in
Bankruptcy
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Payments Held
in Trust
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Liens
Subordinate
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Notation of
Records
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Miscellaneous
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Waiver
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Notices
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Payment of
Expenses, Indemnities, Etc.
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Amendments in
Writing
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Successors and
Assigns
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Survival;
Revival; Reinstatement
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Counterparts;
Integration; Effectiveness
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Severability
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Set-Off
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Governing Law;
Submission to Jurisdiction
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Headings
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Acknowledgments
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Additional
Obligors and Pledgors
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Releases
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Acceptance
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—
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Notice
Addresses of Obligors
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—
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Description of
Pledged Securities
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—
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Filings and
Other Actions Required to Perfect Security Interests
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—
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Location of
Jurisdiction of Organization and Chief Executive Office
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—
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Form of
Assumption Agreement
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—
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Form of
Supplement
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ii
This AMENDED AND
RESTATED SUBORDINATED GUARANTY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of
September 19, 2008, is made by TETON ENERGY CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation (the “ Borrower ”), and each of the
signatories hereto (the Borrower and each of the signatories
hereto, together with any other Subsidiary or holding company of
the Borrower that becomes a party hereto from time to time after
the date hereof, the “ Obligors ”), in favor of
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. , a national
banking association, as successor in interest to WHITEBOX ADVISORS,
LLC, as agent for the Subordinated Noteholders (in such capacity,
together with its successors in such capacity, the “
Subordinated Noteholder Representative ”).
A. The
Borrower has previously entered into that certain Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 9, 2007, among
the Borrower, the financial institutions party thereto (the “
Lenders ”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, as
administrative agent (the “ Senior Agent ”) for
the Lenders (as heretofore amended, supplemented or restated, the
“ Existing Credit Agreement ”).
B. As a
condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to make their
respective extensions of credit to the Borrower under the Existing
Credit Agreement, the Obligors executed and delivered that certain
Amended and Restated Guaranty and Pledge Agreement dated as of
August 9, 2007 (the “ Existing Guaranty and Pledge
Agreement ”) to Senior Agent for the ratable benefit of
the Lenders.
C. The
Existing Credit Agreement was amended and restated in its entirety
as a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
April 2, 2008 by and among the Borrower, the Lenders and the
Senior Agent (as amended, supplemented or restated from time to
time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to
which the Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the
Borrower.
D. The
Existing Guaranty and Pledge Agreement was amended and restated in
its entirety as an Amended and Restated Guaranty and Pledge
Agreement dated as of April 2, 2008 by and among the Borrower,
the Obligors, the Lenders and the Senior Agent (as amended,
supplemented or restated from time to time, the “ Senior
Guaranty and Pledge Agreement ”), pursuant to which the
Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower.
E. The
Borrower has entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as
of June 9, 2008 (as amended, supplemented or restated from
time-to-time, the “ Purchase Agreement ”)
together with certain ancillary agreements (the Security Documents,
together with the other Transaction Documents, collectively the
“ Transaction Documents ” as defined in the
Purchase Agreement) with the Purchasers signatory thereto and their
respective successors and assigns (the “ Subordinated
Noteholders ”), including, without limitation, the
Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement with the Senior Agent,
the provisions of which shall be applicable to this Agreement,
whether specifically referred to in any particular section or
not.
1
F. The
securities issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement are being
exchanged for the Exchanged Debentures (as hereinafter defined)
being issued pursuant to the Indenture (as hereinafter
defined).
G. The
trustee under the Indenture, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust
Company, N.A., is being appointed as Subordinated Noteholder
Representative pursuant to an amendment to the Purchase Agreement
of even date herewith.
H. The
parties desire to amend and restate the Agreement in its entirety
hereby.
I. Now,
therefore, in consideration of the premises herein and to induce
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., the successor in
interest to Whitebox Advisors, LLC, as the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative, and the Subordinated Noteholders to enter into
revised Transaction Documents with the Borrower and to induce the
Subordinated Noteholders to make their respective extensions of
credit to the Borrower thereunder, each Obligor hereby agrees with
the Subordinated Noteholder Representative, for the ratable benefit
of the Subordinated Noteholders as follows:
Section 1.01
Definitions .
(a) Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in any Transaction Document
and used herein have the meanings given to them in such Transaction
Document, and all uncapitalized terms which are defined in the UCC
as in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof are used
herein as so defined.
(b) The
following terms have the following meanings:
“
Agreement ” means this Amended and Restated
Subordinated Guaranty and Pledge Agreement, as the same may be
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“
Bankruptcy Code ” means title 11, United States Code,
as amended from time to time.
“
Collateral ” has the meaning assigned such term in
Section 3.01 .
“
Exchanged Debentures ” has the meaning given that term
in the Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement.
“
Guaranteed Creditors ” means the collective reference
to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative and the Subordinated
Noteholders.
“
Guaranteed Documents ” means the Purchase Agreement,
the Security Documents, and other Transaction Documents.
2
“
Guarantor Obligations ” means with respect to any
Guarantor, the collective reference to (a) the Obligations and
(b) all obligations and liabilities of such Guarantor which
may arise under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document to
which such Guarantor is a party, in each case, whether on account
of principal, interest, guarantee obligations, reimbursement
obligations, payments in respect of an early termination date,
fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without
limitation, all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to any
Guaranteed Creditor under any Guaranteed Document).
“
Guarantors ” means the collective reference to each
Obligor other than the Borrower.
“
Indenture ” has the meaning given such term in the
Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement.
“
Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement ” means that
certain Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement dated
June 9, 2008 among the Borrower, subsidiaries of the Borrower
party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Senior Agent, and
Whitebox Teton, Ltd.,. as collateral agent for the Subordinated
Noteholders, as amended and restated by that certain Amended and
Restated Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement of even date
herewith among the Borrower, subsidiaries of the Borrower party
thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Senior Agent, and The Bank
of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Subordinated Holder
Representative and collateral agent, as further amended,
supplemented or restated from time to time.
“
Issuers ” means the collective reference to each
issuer of a Pledged Security.
“
LLC ” means, with respect to each Pledgor, each
limited liability company described or referred to in
Schedule 2 in which such Pledgor has an
interest.
“
LLC Agreement ” means, with respect to each Pledgor,
each operating agreement or other governing documents relating to
an LLC, as each agreement has heretofore been, and may hereafter
be, amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time.
“
Obligations ” means: (a) in the case of the
Borrower, the obligations of the Borrower under each of the
Transaction Documents, the Exchanged Debentures and the Indenture,
and (b) in the case of each Guarantor, its Guarantor
Obligations.
“
Obligor Claims ” has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 8.01 .
“
Partnership ” means, with respect to each Pledgor,
each partnership described or referred to in Schedule 2
in which such Pledgor has an interest.
“
Partnership Agreement ” means, with respect to each
Pledgor, each partnership agreement governing a Partnership, as
each such agreement has heretofore been, and may hereafter be,
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified.
3
“
Pledged LLC Interests ” means, with respect to each
Pledgor, all right, title and interest of such Pledgor as a member
of each LLC and all right, title and interest of any Pledgor in, to
and under each LLC Agreement.
“
Pledged Partnership Interests ” means, with respect to
each Pledgor, all right, title and interest of such Pledgor as a
limited or general partner in all Partnerships and all right, title
and interest of any Pledgor in, to and under the Partnership
Agreements.
“
Pledged Securities ” means: (a) the equity
interests described or referred to in Schedule 2 (as
the same may be supplemented from time to time pursuant to a
Supplement); and (b) (i) the certificates or instruments, if
any, representing such Equity Interests, (ii) all dividends
(cash, equity interests or otherwise), cash, instruments, rights to
subscribe, purchase or sell and all other rights and property from
time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in
respect of or in exchange for any or all of such securities,
(iii) all replacements, additions to and substitutions for any
of the property referred to in this definition, including, without
limitation, claims against third parties, (iv) the proceeds,
interest, profits and other income of or on any of the property
referred to in this definition, (v) all security entitlements
in respect of any of the foregoing, if any and (vi) all books
and records relating to any of the property referred to in this
definition.
“
Pledgor ” means any Obligor that now or hereafter
pledges Pledged Securities hereunder.
“
Proceeds ” means all “proceeds” as such
term is defined in Section 9.102(65) of the Uniform Commercial
Code in effect in the State of Texas on the date hereof and, in any
event, shall include, without limitation, all dividends or other
income from the Pledged Securities, collections thereon or
distributions or payments with respect thereto.
“
Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.
“
Supplement ” means a Supplement substantially in the
form attached hereto as Annex II .
“
UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time
to time in effect in the State of New York; provided, however,
that, in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law,
any of the attachment, perfection or priority of the Subordinated
Noteholder Representative’s and the Guaranteed
Creditors’ security interest in any Collateral is governed by
the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other
than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean
the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction
for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment,
perfection, the effect thereof or priority and for purposes of
definitions related to such provisions.
Section 1.02
Other Definitional Provisions . Where the context requires,
terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in
relation to a Pledgor, refer to such Pledgor’s Collateral or
the relevant part thereof.
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(a) Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each of
the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally, unconditionally and
irrevocably, guarantees to the Guaranteed Creditors and each of
their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns,
the prompt and complete payment in cash and performance by the
Borrower when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration
or otherwise) of the Obligations. This is a guarantee of payment
and not collection and the liability of each Guarantor is primary
and not secondary.
(b) Anything
herein or in any other Transaction Document to the contrary
notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder
and under the other Transaction Documents shall in no event exceed
the amount which can be guaranteed by such Guarantor under
applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency of
debtors (after giving effect to the right of contribution
established in Section 2.02 ).
(c) Each
Guarantor agrees that the Obligations may at any time and from time
to time exceed the amount of the liability of such Guarantor
hereunder without impairing the guarantee contained in this
Article II or affecting the rights and remedies of any
Guaranteed Creditor hereunder.
(d) Each
Guarantor agrees that if the maturity of the Obligations is
accelerated by bankruptcy or otherwise, such maturity shall also be
deemed accelerated for the purpose of this guarantee without demand
or notice to such Guarantor. The guarantee contained in this
Article II shall remain in full force and effect until all the
Obligations shall have been satisfied by payment in full in
cash.
(e) No
payment made by any Obligor, any other guarantor or any other
Person or received or collected by any Guaranteed Creditor from the
Borrower, any of the Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other
Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off or
appropriation or application at any time or from time to time in
reduction of or in payment of the Obligations shall be deemed to
modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of any
Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment
(other than any payment made by such Guarantor in respect of the
Obligations or any payment received or collected from such
Guarantor in respect of the Obligations), remain liable for the
Obligations up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder
until the Obligations are paid in full in cash.
Section 2.02
Right of Contribution . Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to
the extent that a Guarantor shall have paid more than its
proportionate share of any payment made hereunder, such Guarantor
shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against
any other Guarantor hereunder which has not paid its proportionate
share of such payment. Each Guarantor’s right of contribution
shall be subject to the terms and conditions of
Section 2.03 . The provisions of this Section 2.02
shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of
any
5
Guarantor to
the Guaranteed Creditors, and each Guarantor shall remain liable to
the Guaranteed Creditors for the full amount guaranteed by such
Guarantor hereunder.
Section 2.03
No Subrogation . Notwithstanding any payment made by any
Guarantor hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of any
Guarantor by any Guaranteed Creditor, no Guarantor shall be
entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of any Guaranteed
Creditor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any
collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by any
Guaranteed Creditor for the payment of the Obligations, nor shall
any Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any indemnity,
exoneration, participation, contribution or reimbursement from the
Borrower or any other Guarantor in respect of payments made by such
Guarantor hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Guaranteed
Creditors by the Borrower on account of the Obligations are
irrevocably and indefeasibly paid in full in cash. If any amount
shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation
rights at any time when all of the Obligations shall not have been
irrevocably and indefeasibly paid in full in cash, such amount
shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Guaranteed
Creditors, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be
turned over to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative in the
exact form received by such Guarantor (duly indorsed by such
Guarantor to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative, if
required), to be applied against the Obligations, whether matured
or unmatured, in accordance with Section 6.10 of the
Indenture.
Section 2.04
Guaranty Amendments, Etc. with respect to the Obligations .
Each Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder, and such
Guarantor’s obligations hereunder shall not be released,
discharged or otherwise affected, notwithstanding that, without any
reservation of rights against any Guarantor and without notice to,
demand upon or further assent by any Guarantor (which notice,
demand and assent requirements are hereby expressly waived by such
Guarantor), (a) any demand for payment of any of the
Obligations made by any Guaranteed Creditor may be rescinded by
such Guaranteed Creditor or otherwise and any of the Obligations
continued; (b) the Obligations, the liability of any other
Person upon or for any part thereof or any collateral security or
guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may,
from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended,
amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or
released by, or any indulgence or forbearance in respect thereof
granted by, any Guaranteed Creditor; (c) any Guaranteed
Document may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in
whole or in part, as the Guaranteed Creditors may deem advisable
from time to time; (d) any collateral security, guarantee or
right of offset at any time held by any Guaranteed Creditor for the
payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived,
surrendered or released; (e) any additional guarantors, makers
or endorsers of the Borrower’s Obligations may from time to
time be obligated on the Borrower’s Obligations or any
additional security or collateral for the payment and performance
of the Borrower’s Obligations may from time to time secure
the Borrower’s Obligations; or (f) any other event shall
occur which constitutes a defense or release of sureties generally.
No Guaranteed Creditor shall have any obligation to protect,
secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as
security for the Obligations or for the guarantee contained in this
Article II or any property subject thereto.
Section 2.05
Waivers . Each Guarantor hereby waives any and all notice of
the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the
Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by any Guaranteed
Creditor upon the guarantee contained in this Article II or
acceptance of the
6
guarantee
contained in this Article II; the Obligations, and any of
them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted
or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance
upon the guarantee contained in this Article II and no notice
of creation of the Obligations or any extension of credit already
or hereafter contracted by or extended to the Borrower need be
given to any Guarantor; and all dealings between the Borrower and
any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Guaranteed
Creditors, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively
presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon the
guarantee contained in this Article II. Each Guarantor waives
diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of
default or nonpayment to or upon the Borrower or any of the
Guarantors with respect to the Obligations.
Section 2.06
Guaranty Absolute and Unconditional .
(a) Each
Guarantor understands and agrees that the guarantee contained in
this Article II is, and shall be construed as, a continuing,
completed, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment, and
each Guarantor hereby waives any defense of a surety or guarantor
or any other obligor on any obligations arising in connection with
or in respect of any of the following and hereby agrees that its
obligations hereunder shall not be discharged or otherwise affected
as a result of any of the following:
(i)
the invalidity or unenforceability of any Guaranteed Document, any
of the Obligations or any other collateral security therefor or
guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or
from time to time held by any Guaranteed Creditor;
(ii)
any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of
payment or performance) which may at any time be available to or be
asserted by the Borrower or any other Person against any Guaranteed
Creditor;
(iii)
the insolvency, bankruptcy arrangement, reorganization, adjustment,
composition, liquidation, disability, dissolution or lack of power
of the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any other Person at any
time liable for the payment of all or part of the Obligations,
including any discharge of, or bar or stay against collecting, any
Obligation (or any part of them or interest therein) in or as a
result of such proceeding;
(iv)
any sale, lease or transfer of any or all of the assets of the
Borrower or any other Guarantor, or any changes in the shareholders
of the Borrower or any other Guarantor;
(v)
any change in the corporate existence (including its constitution,
laws, rules, regulations or power), structure or ownership of any
Obligor or in the relationship between the Borrower and any
Obligor;
(vi)
the fact that any Collateral or Lien contemplated or intended to be
given, created or granted as security for the repayment of the
Obligations shall not be properly perfected or created, or shall
prove to be unenforceable or subordinate to any other Lien, it
being recognized and agreed by each of the Guarantors that it is
not
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entering into
this Agreement in reliance on, or in contemplation of the benefits
of, the validity, enforceability, collectability or value of any of
the Collateral for the Obligations;
(vii)
the absence of any attempt to collect the Obligations or any part
of them from any Obligor;
(viii)
(A) any Guaranteed Creditor’s election, in any
proceeding instituted under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, of
the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code;
(B) any borrowing or grant of a Lien by the Borrower, as
debtor-in-possession, or extension of credit, under
Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code; (C) the disallowance,
under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code, of all or any
portion of any Guaranteed Creditor’s claim (or claims) for
repayment of the Obligations; (D) any use of cash collateral
under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code; (E) any
agreement or stipulation as to the provision of adequate protection
in any bankruptcy proceeding; (F) the avoidance of any Lien in
favor of the Guaranteed Creditors or any of them for any reason; or
(G) failure by any Guaranteed Creditor to file or enforce a claim
against the Borrower or its estate in any bankruptcy or insolvency
case or proceeding; or
(ix)
any other circumstance or act whatsoever, including any action or
omission of the type described in Section 2.04 (with or
without notice to or knowledge of the Borrower or such Guarantor),
which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an
equitable or legal discharge of the Borrower for the Obligations,
or of such Guarantor under the guarantee contained in this
Article II, in bankruptcy or in any other instance.
(b) When
making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and
remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, any Guaranteed Creditor
may, but shall be under no obligation to, join or make a similar
demand on or otherwise pursue or exhaust such rights and remedies
as it may have against the Borrower, any other Guarantor or any
other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for
the Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and
any failure by any Guaranteed Creditor to make any such demand, to
pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments
from the Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other Person or to
realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to
exercise any such right of offset, or any release of the Borrower,
any other Guarantor or any other Person or any such collateral
security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve any
Guarantor of any obligation or liability hereunder, and shall not
impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied
or available as a matter of law, of any Guaranteed Creditor against
any Guarantor. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall
include the commencement and continuance of any legal
proceedings.
Section 2.07
Reinstatement . The guarantee contained in this
Article II shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated,
as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of
any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored
or returned by any Guaranteed Creditor upon the insolvency,
bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the
Borrower or any Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the
appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee
or similar officer for, the Borrower or any Guarantor or any
substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such
payments had not been made.
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Section 2.08
Payments . Each Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments
hereunder will be paid to the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative, for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed
Creditors, without set-off, deduction or counterclaim, in dollars,
in immediately available funds, at the offices of the Subordinated
Noteholder Representative as specified in Section 5.4 of the
Purchase Agreement.
ARTICLE III
Grant of Security Interest
Section 3.01
Grant of Security Interest . Subject only to the prior
pledge of each such item of Collateral to the Senior Agent, under
the Senior Guaranty and Pledge Agreement, which such prior pledge
is acknowledged by the Subordinated Noteholder Agent and each
Guaranteed Creditor, each Pledgor hereby pledges, assigns and
transfers to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative, and hereby
grants to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative, for the
ratable benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors, a security interest in
all of the following property now owned or at any time hereafter
acquired by such Pledgor or in which such Pledgor now has or at any
time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest
(collectively, the “ Collateral ”), as
collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and
performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise) of such Pledgor’s
Obligations:
(a) all
Pledged Securities;
(b) all
books and records pertaining to the Collateral; and
(c) to
the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of any
and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees
given by any Person with respect to any of the
foregoing.
Section 3.02
Transfer of Pledged Securities . All certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing such Pledged Securities
shall be delivered to and held pursuant hereto by the Subordinated
Noteholder Representative or a Person designated by the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative (which such designee shall
be the Senior Agent until the termination of the security interest
created by the Senior Guaranty and Pledge Agreement, after which
such time, the designee shall be the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative) and shall be in suitable form for transfer by
delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of
transfer or assignment in blank, and accompanied by any required
transfer tax stamps to effect the pledge of the Pledged Securities
to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, at the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative’s reasonable discretion, all such Pledged
Securities must be delivered or transferred in such manner as to
permit the Subordinated Noteholder Representative to be a
“protected purchaser” to the extent of its security
interest as provided in Section 8.303 of the UCC (if the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative otherwise qualifies as a
protected purchaser). During the continuance of an Event of
Default, the Subordinated Noteholder Representative, subject to its
compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and
the prior rights of the Senior Agent, shall have the right, at any
time in its discretion and without notice, to transfer to or to
register in the name of the Subordinated Noteholder Representative
or any of its nominees any or all of the Pledged Securities,
subject only to the revocable rights specified in
Section 6.03 . In addition, during the
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continuance of
an Event of Default, the Subordinated Noteholder Representative
shall have the right at any time to exchange certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Securities for
certificates or instruments of smaller or larger
denominations.
ARTICLE IV
Representations and Warranties
To induce the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative and the Subordinated
Noteholders to enter into the Transaction Documents and to induce
the Subordinated Noteholders to make their respective extensions of
credit to the Borrower thereunder, each Obligor hereby represents
and warrants to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative and each
Subordinated Noteholder that:
Section 4.01
Representations in Credit Agreement . In the case of each
Guarantor, the representations and warranties set forth in
Section 3.1 of the Purchase Agreement as they relate to such
Guarantor or to the Transaction Documents to which such Guarantor
is a party are true and correct in all material respects, provided
that each reference in each such representation and warranty to the
Borrower’s knowledge shall, for the purposes of this
Section 4.01 , be deemed to be a reference to such
Guarantor’s knowledge.
Section 4.02
Title; No Other Liens . Except for the security interest
granted to the Senior Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders
under the Credit Agreement and the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors
pursuant to this Agreement, such Pledgor is the record and
beneficial owner of its respective items of the Collateral free and
clear of any and all Liens and has rights in or the power to
transfer each item of the Collateral in which a Lien is granted by
it hereunder, free and clear of any Lien. No financing statement or
other public notice with respect to all or any part of the
Collateral is on file or of record in any public office, except
such as have been filed in favor of the Senior Agent, for the
ratable benefit of the Lenders or the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative, for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed
Creditors, pursuant to this Agreement or the Security
Documents.
Section 4.03
Perfected Second Priority Liens . The security interests
granted pursuant to this Agreement (a) upon the completion of
the filings and the other actions specified on
Schedule 3 constitute valid perfected security
interests in all of the Collateral in favor of the Subordinated
Noteholder Representative, for the ratable benefit of the
Guaranteed Creditors, as collateral security for such
Pledgor’s Obligations, enforceable in accordance with the
terms hereof against all creditors of such Pledgor and any Persons
purporting to purchase any Collateral from such Pledgor and
(b) are prior to all other Liens on the Collateral in
existence on the date hereof other than the prior Liens in favor of
the Senior Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders.
Section 4.04
Obligor Information . On the date hereof, the correct legal
name of such Obligor, all names and trade names that such Obligor
has used in the last five years, such Obligor’s jurisdiction
of organization and each jurisdiction of organization of such
Obligor over the last five years, organizational number, taxpayer
identification number, and the location(s) of
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such
Obligor’s chief executive office or sole place of business
over the last five years are specified on Schedule 4
.
Section 4.05
Pledged Securities .
(a) The
Pledged Securities required to be pledged hereunder by such Pledgor
are listed in Schedule 2 . The shares of Pledged
Securities pledged by such Pledgor hereunder constitute all the
issued and outstanding shares of all classes of the equity
interests of each Issuer owned by such Pledgor. All the shares of
the Pledged Securities have been duly and validly issued and are
fully paid and nonassessable; and such Pledgor is the record and
beneficial owner of, and has good title to, the Pledged Securities
pledged by it hereunder, free of any and all Liens or options in
favor of, or claims of, any other Person, except the security
interest created by this Agreement or by the Senior Guaranty and
Pledge Agreement, and has rights in or the power to transfer the
Pledged Securities in which a Lien is granted by it hereunder, free
and clear of any Lien.
(b) There
are no restrictions on transfer (that have not been waived or
otherwise consented to) in the LLC Agreement governing any Pledged
LLC Interest and the Partnership Agreement governing any Pledged
Partnership Interest or any other agreement relating thereto which
would limit or restrict (i) the grant of a security interest
in the Pledged LLC Interests and the Pledged Partnership Interests,
(ii) the perfection of such security interest or
(iii) the exercise of remedies in respect of such perfected
security interest in the Pledged LLC Interests and the Pledged
Partnership Interests, in each case, as contemplated by this
Agreement. Upon the exercise of remedies in respect of the Pledged
LLC Interests and the Pledged Partnership Interests, a transferee
or assignee of a membership interest or partnership interest, as
the case may be, of such LLC or Partnership, as the case may be,
shall become a member or partner, as the case may be, of such LLC
or Partnership, as the case may be, entitled to participate in the
management thereof and, upon the transfer of the entire interest of
such Pledgor, such Pledgor ceases to be a member or partner, as the
case may be.
Section 4.06
Benefit to the Guarantor . The Borrower is a member of an
affiliated group of companies that includes each Guarantor, and the
Borrower and the other Guarantors are engaged in related
businesses. Each Guarantor is a Subsidiary of the Borrower and its
guaranty and surety obligations pursuant to this Agreement may
reasonably be expected to benefit, directly or indirectly, such
Subsidiary; and each Guarantor has determined that this Agreement
is necessary and convenient to the conduct, promotion and
attainment of the business of such Guarantor and the
Borrower.
Section 4.07
Solvency . Each Obligor (a) is not insolvent as of the
date hereof and will not be rendered insolvent as a result of this
Agreement (after giving effect to Section 2.02), (b) is
not engaged in business or a transaction, or about to engage in a
business or a transaction, for which any property remaining with it
constitutes unreasonably small capital, and (c) does not
intend to incur, or believe it will incur, Debt that will be beyond
its ability to pay as such Debt matures.
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Each Obligor
covenants and agrees with the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative and the Subordinated Noteholders that, from and
after the date of this Agreement until the Obligations shall have
been paid in full in cash:
Section 5.01
Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further
Documentation . Each Pledgor agrees that:
(a) it
shall maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a
perfected security interest having at least the priority described
in Section 4.03 and shall defend such security interest
against the claims and demands of all Persons
whomsoever.
(b) it
will furnish to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative from
time to time statements and schedules further identifying and
describing the Collateral and such other reports in connection with
the Collateral as the Subordinated Noteholder Representative may
reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.
(c) At
any time and from time to time, upon the written request of the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative, and at the sole expense of
such Pledgor, it will promptly and duly execute and deliver, and
have recorded, such further instruments and documents and take such
further actions as the Subordinated Noteholder Representative may
reasonably deem necessary for the purpose of obtaining or
preserving the full benefits of this Agreement and of the rights
and powers herein granted, including, without limitation, the
delivery of certificated securities and the filing of any financing
or continuation statements under the UCC (or other similar laws) in
effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests
created hereby.
Section 5.02
Changes in Locations, Name, Etc . Such Obligor recognizes
that financing statements pertaining to the Collateral have been or
may be filed where such Obligor maintains any Collateral or is
organized. Such Obligor will not cause or permit any change in its
(a) corporate name or in any trade name used to identify it in
the conduct of its business or in the ownership of its properties,
(b) the location of its chief executive office or principal
place of business, (c) its identity or corporate structure or in
the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or formed,
(d) its jurisdiction of organization or its organizational
identification number in such jurisdiction of organization or
(e) its federal taxpayer identification number, unless, in
each case, such Obligor shall have first (i) notified the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative of such change at least
thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of such change,
and (ii) taken all action reasonably requested by the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative for the purpose of
maintaining the perfection and priority of the Subordinated
Noteholder Representative’s security interests under this
Agreement. In any notice furnished pursuant to this
Section 5.02 , such Obligor will expressly state in a
conspicuous manner that the notice is required by this Agreement
and contains facts that may require additional filings of financing
statements or other notices for the purposes of continuing
perfection of the Subordinated Noteholder Representative’s
security interest in the Collateral. At the request of the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative, on or prior to the
occurrence of such event, the Borrower will
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provide to the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative and the Subordinated
Noteholders an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative, to the
effect that such event will not impair the validity of the security
interests hereunder, the perfection and priority thereof, the
enforceability of the Transaction Documents, and such other matters
as may be reasonably requested by the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative.
Section 5.03
Pledged Securities .
(a) If
such Pledgor shall become entitled to receive or shall receive any
stock certificate (including, without limitation, any certificate
representing a stock dividend or a distribution in connection with
any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital or any
certificate issued in connection with any reorganization), option
or rights in respect of the equity interests of any Issuer, whether
in addition to, in substitution of, as a conversion of, or in
exchange for, any shares of the Pledged Securities, or otherwise in
respect thereof, such Pledgor shall accept the same as the agent of
the Guaranteed Creditors, hold the same in trust for the Guaranteed
Creditors, segregated from other property of such Pledgor, and,
subject to any prior rights of the Senior Agent, deliver the same
forthwith to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative in the
exact form received, duly indorsed by such Pledgor to the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative, if required, together with
an undated stock power covering such certificate duly executed in
blank by such Pledgor and with, if the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative so requests, signature guaranteed, to be held by the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative, subject to the terms
hereof, as additional collateral security for the
Obligations.
(b) Without
the prior written consent of the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative, such Pledgor will not (i) unless otherwise
expressly permitted hereby or under the other Transaction
Documents, vote to enable, or take any other action to permit, any
Issuer to issue any equity interests of any nature or to issue any
other securities convertible into or granting the right to purchase
or exchange for any equity interests of any nature of any Issuer,
(ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, or otherwise dispose
of, or grant any option with respect to, the Pledged Securities or
Proceeds thereof (except pursuant to a transaction expressly
permitted by the Transaction Documents), (iii) create, incur
or permit to exist any Lien or option in favor of, or any claim of
any Person with respect to, any of the Pledged Securities or
Proceeds thereof, or any interest therein, except for the security
interests created by this Agreement and the Senior Guaranty and
Pledge Agreement or (iv) enter into any agreement or
undertaking restricting the right or ability of such Pledgor or the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative to sell, assign or transfer
any of the Pledged Securities or Proceeds thereof.
(c) In
the case of each Pledgor that is an Issuer, such Issuer agrees that
(i) it will be bound by the terms of this Agreement relating
to the Pledged Securities issued by it and will comply with such
terms insofar as such terms are applicable to it, (ii) it will
notify the Subordinated Noteholder Representative promptly in
writing of the occurrence of any of the events described in
Section 5.03(a) with respect to the Pledged Securities
issued by it and (iii) the terms of Sections
Section 6.02(a) and Section 6.03 shall apply to
it, mutatis mutandis , with respect to all actions that may
be required of it pursuant to Section 6.02(d) or
Section 6.03 with respect to the Pledged Securities issued by
it.
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(d) In
the case of each Pledgor that is a partner in a Partnership, such
Pledgor hereby consents to the extent required by the applicable
Partnership Agreement to the pledge by each other Pledgor, pursuant
to the terms hereof, of the Pledged Partnership Interests in such
Partnership and to the transfer of such Pledged Partnership
Interests to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative or its
nominee and to the substitution of the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative or its nominee as a substituted partner in such
Partnership with all the rights, powers and duties of a general
partner or a limited partner, as the case may be. In the case of
each Pledgor member of an LLC, such Pledgor hereby consents to the
extent required by the applicable LLC Agreement to the pledge by
each other Pledgor, pursuant to the terms hereof, of the Pledged
LLC Interests in such LLC and to the transfer of such Pledged LLC
Interests to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative or its
nominee and to the substitution of the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative or its nominee as a substituted member of the LLC
with all the rights, powers and duties of a member of the LLC in
question.
(e) Such
Pledgor shall not agree to any amendment of a Partnership Agreement
or LLC Agreement that in any way adversely affects the perfection
of the security interest of the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative in the Pledged Partnership Interests or Pledged LLC
Interests pledged by such Pledgor hereunder, including any
amendment electing to treat the membership interest or partnership
interest of such Pledgor as a security under Section 8-103 of
the UCC.
(f) Each
Pledgor shall furnish to the Subordinated Noteholder Representative
such stock powers and other instruments as may be required by the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative to assure the
transferability of the Pledged Securities when and as often as may
be reasonably requested by the Subordinated Noteholder
Representative.
(g) The
Pledged Securities will at all times constitute not less than 100%
of the equity interests of the Issuer thereof owned by any Pledgor.
Each Pledgor will not permit any Issuer of any of the Pledged
Securities to issue any new shares of any class of equity interests
of such Issuer without the prior written consent of the
Subordinated Noteholder Representative.
ARTICLE VI
Remedial Provisions
Section 6.01
Code and Other Remedies .
(a) Upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
and subject always to any prior rights of the Senior Agent and the
Lenders under the Senior Guaranty and Pledge Agreement and the
Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement, the Subordinated
Noteholder Representative, on behalf of the Guaranteed Creditors,
may exercise, in addition to all other rights and remedies granted
to them in this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and in
any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or relating
to the Obligations, all rights and remedies of a secured party
under the UCC or any other applicable law or otherwise available at
law or equity. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Subordinated Noteholder Representative, without demand of
performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or
notice of any kind (except any notice required by law
14
referred to
below) to or upon
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